Hello Everyone:
As CAHL’s President, it’s important to me that our members feel welcome and are connected to the various opportunities and offerings provided by the California Association of Healthcare Leaders.
Today, I want to encourage you to attend one of our educational or networking offerings or volunteer to be on one of our committees.
Let’s review some of the reasons why it’s important for us to have your involvement.
First, we want to support an inclusive environment.
Inclusion is providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized. We want to embrace all people irrespective of their race, gender, disability, medical condition, or other needs. It is about giving equal access and opportunities and getting rid of discrimination and intolerance. It affects all aspects of public life. You’ve joined ACHE and CAHL and it’s important to us that you are included in our efforts. We are a membership association, and we are here to serve you.
We want to support our culture. Culture are the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a group. Common examples of culture are norms, roles, expectations, habits, language, food, events, and pastimes. It’s important to understand our culture because it’s a strong part of our lives. It influences our views, values, humor, hopes, loyalties, and worries and fears. So, when you are working with people and building relationships with them, it helps to have some perspective and understanding of their culture. And we want to promote a community culture that is the living expression of our everyday life learned and passed on informally from person to person. CAHL is committed to creating and supporting that community culture and understanding where you come from and where you want to go.
We want to promote a sense of belonging where you feel secure and supported where there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and you can identify with one of your other CAHL members. It is when you can bring your authentic self to our organization. It’s an emotional state that is really the goal of our Diversity and Inclusion efforts. When CAHL members feel that they truly belong in the association, they feel more connected and committed. How people feel, and whether they feel as though they belong, is truly the key to Diversity and Inclusion and connection.
And Belonging Is Key To Engagement. Studies have found that organizations with high levels of belonging also have higher member satisfaction and engagement. Organizations see improvement with respect to retention, intention to stay and measures of effectiveness, which are all important. When people feel as though they’re accepted and part of something, they’re more willing to support one another and the goals of the organization.
Which is why we continue to promote and advocate for more educational and networking programs for you and opportunities to volunteer. You’ll also notice that CAHL is collaborating with other ACHE chapters to offer more opportunities for networking and education. The ACHE Maryland and San Diego chapters are two of our most recent partners.
We want our members to feel included and to be part of a community culture of belonging and engagement so that we can together help each member to be the best person they can be.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please email us at member.outreach@ache-cahl.org and we’ll explore with you the best volunteer opportunity based on your current needs.
For networking and educational events, please go to: Upcoming Events – https://ache-cahl.org/events/
As various opportunities are offered, I hope you will consider joining one of them.
Best Regards,
Michael O’Connell, MHA, FACHE, FACMPE
President, California Association of Healthcare Leaders
Email: moconnell@stanfordhealthcare.org
Cell: 650-421-3463